TABLE CONTENTS

Red Alert on the Plant-parasitic Nematodes of Banana
Salmon, F. (1), C. Maton (1), P. Topart (2), A. Soler (3) & P. Quénéhervé (2)
(1) CIRAD, UPR Amélioration génétique d’espèces à multiplication végétative, PRAM, Le Lamentin,
Martinique, F-97285, France; (2) IRD, UMR Résistance des plantes aux bioagresseurs (IRD/CIRAD/UM2),
PRAM, Le Lamentin, Martinique, F-97285, France; (3) CIRAD, UPR Systèmes Bananes et Ananas, PRAM, Le
Lamentin, Martinique, F-97285, France
A mutant of ‘Grande Naine’, the cultivar MA13 (Musa AAA, Cavendish subgroup) has been
selected in the field in Martinique for its good horticultural characteristics (hardiness, bunch
conformation, productivity…). This peculiar cultivar always demonstrated significant lower
susceptibilities to the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis and to the lesion nematode
Pratylenchus coffeae. In addition, the cv MA13 exhibited singularly redder pseudostem as
compared to others Cavendish clones. On the basis of these observations, we selected in field
conditions some others ‘coloured’ mutants among different banana subgroups: cv
MA13_Green (Musa AAA, Cavendish subgroup), cv dwarf Mossi_Green (Musa AAA, Red
subgroup) and cvs 920_Red, 920_Green and 921_Red (Musa AAA, CIRAD hybrids). The
susceptibility to nematodes of classic cultivars and associated mutants was evaluated under
controlled conditions in a growth chamber on Andosol (volcanic ash soils representative of
the French West Indies banana production area), at 24-28°C and 80% RH. Forty-five days
after inoculation of each banana clone with 400 R. similis or P. coffeae per plant, the entire
root system was carefully collected and weighted, and nematodes were extracted. In vitro
micropropagation has no effect on the colour stability of the pseudostem. Reproductive
factors and root infestations showed consistent trends, with an increase in R. similis root
infestations for green mutants (up to 54 %) and a decrease for red mutants (up to 61%)
compared to classic cultivars. Surprisingly, the opposite consistent trend was observed for P.
coffeae root infestations, with a decrease for green mutants (up to 43 %) and an increase for
red mutants (up to 76%) compared to classic cultivars. These results provide first evidence
that colour criterion, representative of the anthocyanins content, could be a good and fairly
simple indicator of nematode susceptibility in selection process.
Nematode Control and Other Benefits of Resistant Trap Crops
Schlathoelter, M.
P. H. Petersen Saatzucht Lundsgaard GmbH & Co. KG, D-24977 Grundhof, Germany
Regular, proper cultivation of resistant intercropping is not only an indispensable measure for
controlling nematodes and other plant diseases but guarantees also soil quality with lasting
effect and significantly contributes to the guarantee and the increase of yield and thus to the
profitability and sustainability of crop cultivation.
Nematode control: P. H. Petersen is a breeding company which is highly specified in
designing nematode controlling trap crops. Starting with the first fodder radish (Raphanus
sativus) cultivar PEGLETTA which is able to reduce the sugar beet cyst nematodes
(Heterodera schachtii) population about 80 % and a special developed mustard (Sinapis alba)
cultivar MAXI the reduction capacity of the newest varieties is meanwhile more than 90%
with the use of resistant varieties like COLONEL, CORPORAL or ACCENT. Also against
Meloidogyne sp. P. H. Petersen selected fodder radish varieties (DEFENDER, COMET) that
suppress multiplication of these nematodes. In potato crop rotations special varieties like
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 241